Electric connection for railway-vehicles.



L. BOIRA'ULT.

ELECTRIC CONNECTION 'FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1913.

11,227,375, Patented May 22, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES INVEN bR u, 3. ,9 Lou/s 50mm. r

M mW/ZZ ATTORNEYS L.. BOIRAULT.

ELECTRIC CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED .IULY25, I913- Patented May 22, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M Q% WM m k R X, W m @w H m M NQ MW. M @Q Q RN M nm N m 3% .N bu N |N VE N TO I? 4 00/5 190/0104 r wmmsses ATTORNEYS L. BUIRAULT.

ELECTRIC CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, I9I3.

1,227,375. Patented May 22,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W'QW/R I IIWW IIIZFIIIIIIIIIIE'WQ Au 11/ m -mm IIII I= III WITNESES INVENTOR 1 19% [00/5 flow/W47 L. BOIRAULT. ELECTRICCONNECTION FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES.

APPLICATION man JULY 25, 1913.

Pa t ented May 22, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A mw fly.

7 mm NW E/ V0 m5 5 w 0 ATTOR NEYS WITNESSES L. BOIRAULT.

ELECTRIC CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 253.1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- a Q bk R B 52 I g n 6 1 3 WITNESSES INVENTOF? m. 6 03m Lou/s fio/fiuwr ATTO RNEYS n41 mwms PETERS ca. ruomurna. WASNINGYDN u. c.

LOUIS BOIRAULT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed July 25, 1913. Serial No. 781,213.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS BOIRAULT, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 58 Rue Taitbout, Paris, in the BBPUbliC of France, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Connections for Railway-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

.The present invention has for its object an apparatus for insuring the electrical coupling of any number of conductors at the ends of the carriages, particularly in electric trains comprising a plurality of automotor vehicles. The connections are obtained by means of split pins which frictionally enter corresponding sockets, the pins being carried by a portion of the apparatus which is mounted upon one of the carriages and the sockets being carried by another portion of the apparatus which is mounted upon the adjacent vehicle.

The invention consists more particularly in arrangements which allow of getting automatically the coupling of the electric conductors of the train at the same time as the coupling of the cars provided with automatic couplings. For this purpose the invention consists in combining automatic couplings of any suitable kind with the heads of the stud and socket connection suitably connected with the said couplings.

The invention also consists in means intended for insuring the insulation of and prolonging the life of the contact members, notwithstanding the prejudicial effects of dust, rain, snow and the hard wear resulting from the oscillation and violent shocks that occur during running. The insulation of the contact members should in particular be insured when the vehicles are separated and these members consequently liable to be touched inadvertently, as short-circuits might present danger.

These devices and arrangements will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is given by way of example and in which the apparatus is assumed to be fitted to vehicles provided with the Boirault automatic coupling for which the Patents 689,058'0f December 17th 1901,

977,926of December 6th 1910, 968,917 of August th 1910 have been granted to me. The two parts of the apparatus being mounted upon appropriate extensions of the trunuions of the respective coupling heads.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a coupling head the halves of the connecting device being mounted upon the sides thereof.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one half of the apparatus, its lower part being in section.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of another half of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the two halves ready for connection.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the halves connected.

Figs. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sections of the male and female connecting members.

Fig, 8 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a rear view illustrating the manner of coupling of a car provided with the present connecting apparatus, with a car not so provided.

The coupling head 1 is provided with extended trunnions 2 and 3 upon which there are mounted respectively two halves A and B of connection devices embodying the present invention.

The half A comprises a circular box 4 in which a chamber presenting the form of a frustum of a sphere is formed, into this chamber fits a ball 5 of corresponding form which is capable of slight play therein in all directions. A cylindrical housing 6 is formed in this ball and contains an insulating disk 7 adapted to slide therein and which is subjected to the action of a spring 8. The end 9 of the hollow ball 5 is constituted by another insulating disk.

In the disk 7 a circular series of pins 10 is fixed, one of the ends of these pins is slit. 11 is fixed in the disk 9 and each of these terminals presents a cavity 12 for the reception of the corresponding pin 10 and being connected with one of the conductors. 13

A corresponding series of terminals that it is desired to connect electrically end or bottom 1.4 and the nut 19 on the one hand, and the disk 9 on the other hand. Furthermore the bolt 17 is provided with a shoulder againstwhich bears a washer 23 interposed between the spring 8 and the disk 7. Normally the spring 8 maintains the bolt 17 and the disk 7 pressed forward in such a manner that the pins are disengaged from the terminals 11 and their front extremities are flush with the disk 1(3. When the bolt 17 is pressed back, the shoulder 22 carries with it the washer 23 in compressing the spring 8 and the parts 16, 15, 7 and 10 are also carried rearward by the head 18; the pins 10 thus engage in the terminals 11 and are blocked, while the disk 16 continuing to be pressed back by the head 18, the block of india rubber 1.5 iscrushed between the disks 16 and 7 in spreading radially and the split ends of the pins are thus exposed outside the disk 16. \Vhen the pres sure upon the bolt 17 ceases, the spring 8 again brings it forward with the other movable parts and the india rubber of the block extends in such a manner that the front portions of the pins are again completely covered. These arrangements have for their object to prevent the penetration of rain, dust and so forth around the pins, to automatically clean their ends each time the bolt 17 is displaced and to automatically break the connection between the pins and the terminals 11 so long as the bolt 17 is not pressed rearward sufiiciently.

The india rubber block 15 also forms a joint between the inner edge of the housing (3 and prevents theipenetration of foreign bodies.

The box 4 is surmounted by a fork 21 forming a screen and protecting the members described above from rain and snow to some extent.

The box l is also provided with twohorns 25 directed forward and serving to center the half A relatively to the opposite half B in engaging in corresponding openings 26 in the latter so that the pins 10 may engage exactly in the sockets 27 carried by the half B. i

The mobility of the ball 5 in the box -l; serves to avoid the torsion and fatigue of the pins in case the axes of the two halves of the apparatus should oscillate slightly relatively to each other during the running of the train.

lVhen the devices are separated, the ball joint is held in a median position by the resilient action of the members 20, 21, 8 and 15 against the plane faces of the disks 1 i, 9, 7, 16 as will be understood from the drawing; this position can also be insured by means of a special device (Fig. 4) comprising a rod 28 rigidly fixed to the ball 5 and passing with play through a lateral opening 29 in the box 4, a disk 30 fixed to the rod, a cylindrical opening 29 in the box 4., a disk 30 fixed to this red, a cylindrical box 31 in which this disk is guided with easy friction and a spring 32 compressed between this disk and the bottom of the box 31; the action of this spring serves to press the box against a plane portion of the wall of the box at and as the rod '28, must necessarily remain perpendicular to the end of the box 31, it follows that this rod always tends to return to a position at right angles to the said wall of the box 4: if it should be brought out of the perpendicular.

The box at is provided with a foot 33 (Figs. 2 and provided with a transverse aperture 34; through which the trunnion 2 passes with play. In order to maintain this box resiliently in a given position relatively to the trunnion 2, a device analogous to that described above is employed comprisinga bolt 35 passing through a vertical aperture in the trunnion 2, and an aperture 3!) in the foot 33, a disk 36 fixed to this bolt. a cylindrical box 37 in which this disk slides with easy friction and a spring 38 compressed between this disk and the end of the box, in such a manner as to press this bottom against the lower plane face of the foot 38.

This method of fitting permits the part A to adapt itself resiliently to the inevitable variations of position that may arise in the opposite part B at the moment of coupling. Appropriate clearance is provided in the apertures 3i and 39 in order that all the parts of the electric coupling device may be rendered independent of the relative displacements which neccssarily take place between the coupling devices during coupling and during the running of the train.

The part B also comprises a box 10 which is provided with a lug 4C1 rigidly fixed to the trunnion 3 by keying or otherwise. The aperture of this box is closed by a disk 42 of insulating material in which are embedded the sockets 27 which correspond as regards number and position with the pins 10. Through the center of this disk and that of the end 43 of the box a bolt &1 is able to slide, this belt is intended to strike against the bolt 17 of the portion A of the adjacent carriage. This bolt std carries an insulating disk upon which are fixed a series of rods 416 provided with india rubber pistons 4E7 which slide inside the sockets 27 and tightly close them. A spring 48 interposed between the end i3 and a socket 49 which surrounds the bolt 11 presses the latter with the disk toward the exterior in such a manner that the pistons i? are flush with the cover of the box 40 when the carriages are separated (Fig.4). In this position the cover 42 presents a. smooth surface upon which no part of the electrical connection appears. When coupling takes place,

the bolts 17 and 44 mutually repel each other in such a manner that the disk 45 is pressed inward and the pistons 47 recede in the sockets 27 leaving free space for the pins 10 which enter the sockets (Fig. 5).

The sockets 27 are connected with the respective conductors 50 this connection is not, however direct but by the intermediary of movable members arranged inside the box 40 and enabling connection to be made in certain conditions only, for example at the will of the staff,or automatically when the coupling devices close, and so forth. Vith this object an insulating disk 51 is guided in the box 40, in such a manner that it is able to slide it carries a series of split pins 52 adapted to engage frictionally in sockets 53 embedded in the disk 42 and electrically connected with the respective sockets 27. These pins 52 are constantly in connection with the conductors 50 by the intermediary of terminal 54 fixed to the end 43 and of frictional contacts 55 and 56 of the pin and socket type or in any other con venient manner. A spring 57 compressed between the end 43 and the disk 51 presses the latter and consequently tends to engage the pins 52 in the sockets 53, but the disk 51 is connected by rods 58 with an external member 59 which can be pulled either mechanically or by hand in such a manner as to keep the pins 52 away from the sockets 53. In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, the member 59 is connected by a cable 60 passing over a pulley 61 with the lever 62 controlling the Boirault coupling bolts (Fig. 1) in such a manner that the said member 59 is maintained drawn out while the lever 62 is locked in the open position by its pawl 63. Whenthe couplings of two adjacent carriages are connected,the pawls 63 are lifted in the known manner and the levers 62 oscillate in the direction indicated by the arrows in such a manner that the member 59 is released and the connecting elements 52 53 are coupled at the same time as the elements 10 and 27, thus electrically connecting the conductors 13 and 50. This connection will be broken as soon as the levers 62 are drawn rearward for uncoupling, even before the carriages are uncoupled.

It will of course be understood that the same results can readily be obtained when the electrical connections are mounted upon mechanical couplings of another type or upon supports other than couplings.

The front edge of the box 40 is extended in such a manner as to form a kind of screen 64 sheltering the disk 42 from rain and engaging beneath the screen 24 of the portion A (Fig. 5). This part 64 is also flared and arranged in such a manner as to guide the horns 25 in the housings 36 during the operation of coupling, compensating for the clearance which is left by the guide elements of the couplings. It should be noted that the horns 25 should fit very exactly in the housings 26 because the least play would strain or break the connections which fit each other frictionally.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated each apparatus is adapted for connecting nine conductors with nine other conductors, but this number may of course be increased or diminished.

One form of the improved embodiment of the electric connecting members will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 In the male part of the apparatus (Fig. 6), the split pins 10 are secured on a disk 7 of lnsulating material and which is slidable within a cylindrical cavity of the swivel 5, mounted in the cylindrical casing 4; such disk is pushed outwardly by a spring 8 which bears against the bottom 9 of insulating material of the swivel, in which material are embedded the sockets 11 connected with the conductors 13 which are to be coupled. The ends of the pins 10 are placed in the perforations of a block of insulating material 15 through which passes a central rod 17 provided with a head 18. As to the corresponding device previously described, the present novel device has several features consisting in that the block of insulating material 15 is made of a material which is not very elastic or yielding; that it can slide freely on the pins and is subjected to the action of a spring 65; furthermore, in that the swivel is subjected to the action of a spring 66, through the medium of a washer 67, which bears against the rear face of the swivel, such action having the effect of always bringing the swivel back to its central position. Such spring 66 and such washer 67 may be replaced by a rubber washer. The ends of the wires 13 are flush with a mass of insulating material 68 and lead to sockets 69 which are also embedded in a block'of. insulating material 70, and which are engaged frictionally on the split pins 71 associated with thesockets 11.

As to the female part of the apparatus (Fig. 7) it comprises a series of sockets 27 secured in the block of insulating material 42 located in front of a casing 40. In each of such sockets is slidable with some amount of friction a split pin 46 which is secured to a plate of insulating material 45 movable within the casing 40. A spring 48, acting on the head of a bolt 44 secured to the plate 45, tends to hold the pistons or pins 46 in the outer end of the sockets 27, as shown in the drawing. Furthermore, within the casing 40, a plate of insulating material 51 is movable and carries a series of contact pieces, formed by flat springs the ends 52 and 56 of which are curved and so arranged as to come and rub by the side respectively against the rear ends of the pins 46 and against the heels provided at the front ends of the pins 55, the latter being embedded in a stationary plate of insulating material 43, and being connected with the conductors 75 which are to be connected electrically to the conductors 13. In the position shown in the drawings, the plate 51 is held in the rear by the pull of a cable which is attached to a bell crank lever 76, the latter acting through its bifurcated end on a rod 58 the head of which bears against the plate 51; in such position, the ends 52 and 56 do not touch either the pins 46 or the pins lVhen the pull 011 the cable 60 ceases, the plate 51 will advance under the action of a spring 57 and the ends 56 of the flat springs will come in contact with the heels of the pins 55. Upon the coupling of the opposed parts of two similar apparatuses, the pins 46 will be pushed back with the plate 45 by the meeting of the bolts 17 and id, so that the said pins will come in contact with the ends 59 of the flat springs while the pins 10 will move into the sockets 27.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially the same as that of the embodiment previously described.

In order to allow the electric coupling of a car provided with the present connecting apparatus with a car not so provided, the conductors 13 and leading from the two parts of the apparatus are not united direct with those of the car (Fig. 9), but lead to the movable couplings 77 and 78, the one having pins and other having sockets, while the conductors placed on the body of the car lead, on one side; to a female coupling T 9 and, on the opposite side, to a male coupling 80, and these couplings 79 and 80 can be coupled by hand, either with the couplings 77 and 7 8 of the same car, or with the similar couplings mounted in the usual manner on an opposite car which would not be provided with the present connecting apparatus; in the latter case, the couplings T7 and 78, which are not made use of, will be inclosed in protecting boxes 81 secured either to the frame, to the body of the car or to the coupling apparatus.

As will be understood, this arrangement of the conductors and of the couplings is applicable to the electric connecting apparatus, regardless of the construction of such apparatus.

Claims.

1. The combination of an automatic coupling for railway and other similar vehicles with two heads of electric connections, studs and sockets carried thereby, each head com prising a casing mounted on the said cou pling and a bearing in such casing for the studs or sockets, one of said casings being yieldingly mounted on the coupling and the respective bearing forming a ball and socket joint with such casing, and yielding means whereby to hold the latter casing and respective bearing in an average position in relation to the coupling, substantially as described.

2. In a head of electric connections of the stud and socket type, the combination of a casing, a bearing mounted in the casing, a plate of insulating material secured in such bearing, a plate of insulating material axially movable in said bearing, contact members on these two plates, a spring between the plates, the contact members on the movable plate, projecting outside of the latter, and a block of insulating material yieldingly mounted on the outwardly projecting parts of the said contact members, substantially as described.

3. In a head of electric connections of the stud and socket type, the combination of a hollow casing, a fixed plate secured in such casing, contact pieces on such plate, a bolt slidable through the said plate, a movable plate secured to the inner end of such bolt, contact members on such movable plate, a spring pushing the said movable plate inwardly, a second fixed plate secured in the said hollow casing, contact members on this second fixed plate, a second bolt slidable,

through such second fixed plate, a second movable plate secured to the inner end of the said second bolt, a spring pushing this latter bolt outwardly, the contact members of these two latter plates being in contact with one another and means actuated from without whereby to pull outwardly or release the first named bolt, the outer head of the sec ond named bolt extending outwardly beyond the second fixed plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination of an automatic coupling, a head of connections of the stud and socket type having a rear connector plate, a front connector plate, both of said plates being movable, said front plate being moved when the coupling is joined with an opposite similar coupling, means for holding the rear connector plate in disconnected position relative to the front connector plate when the automatic coupling is in uncoupled position, and for releasing the said rear plate, when the coupling is in coupled position, and a spring adapted to move the rear connector plate when released to position for connecting engagement with the front connector plate.

5. In a head of electric connections of the stud and socket type, the combination of a hollow bearing, a plate secured to such hearing, sockets inserted in the said fixed plate, a plate movable within the hollow bearing, studs on such plate slidable in the said sockets, a bolt united to the said movable plate and passing through the said fixed plate, a spring pushing the said bolt outwardly, the

outer head of such bolt projecting outwardly from the fixed plate, substantially as de scribed.

6. In an electric connector for railway vehicle couplings, the combination of a rear plate, contact pieces on said plate, a movable front plate, contact pieces extending back ward and forward from said latter plate and adapted to engage at their back ends the first named contact pieces and at their front ends respective contact pieces of a similar connector on an opposite coupling, and a spring acting on the said movable plate to hold the contact pieces of the said plates out of engagement, whereby the said contact 15 pieces can carry current only when the 0pposite couplings are brought together and consequently the said front plate is pushed back against the action of the said spring.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing 20 as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS BOIRAULT. Witnesses HANsoN C. Coxn, MAURICE RoUX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of PatentI, Washington, D. G. 

